Bankruptcy Judge Denies News Outlet’s Attempts to Open Garlock’s Asbestos Estimation Trial

CHARLOTTE, N.C. –– The bankruptcy judge overseeing Garlock Sealing Technologies’ estimation trial has denied a press request to open certain portions of the trial designated as confidential, ruling that the rights of the involved businesses and the asbestos plaintiffs “outweigh the public’s interest.”

In an order released July 31, Judge George R. Hodges of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina also noted that during the course of the bankruptcy proceedings, seven orders relating to confidentiality had been issued, “none of which have been challenged previously by … any entity.”

“This [trial] is not a dispostive …